New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-20
THE PAPALOI.
RY l.. MANNS.

rnle were Ignorant, brutal and fcentious ami
secretly observed the supcrstitions which they or
their fathers had learnt on the Congo. Their only
moio OF retaliation for tho crueltics practised on
them by their MASTERS was recourse to that secret
vengeance which has 80 often startled and DIS
MAYED the white proprietors in the West Indies
This was obtained through the knowledge OF their
fetch men of the properties OF various plants, 40
that by certain preparations they conld inilict mad
ness paralysis or death on such persons rs they
had marked as their victims.
In the year 1859 the island was thrown into q
state of confusion by the hopes inspired In the
minds of the coloniss and tho negroes by the news
of tho revolution IN France and full OF the beli,f
in the speedy overthrow OF the whites large body
OF blacks had fed to the mountains, where. under
the leadership of a negro named Oge they threat
ened to poar down into the plains and eyterninate
tho colouists. The latter we're divided into two
parties and either ardent in their profession
of loyalty anxious to profit by the dliNcnitles OF
the mother country and establish the ndepencehce
of the island. Under such condition OF Things law
and order were already subverted ana We srcrI.
sect Of the Vaudoux Ia biieons WORSHIP OF wn't 9.
cannbalsm formed n part OF the rites pesan "
show itself more openly among tho Slaves, am
vonnp negro girls and children were frequently
stolen. to be killed and eaten by tpe priests lor
Papalo as they were caiGd ana Iner " Hat
time wasa NJ. Levasseur who. with his son and
daughter lived III handsome mansion in the Cui-
de Sac fertile plain not far from Port-au-l'rnce
He was "A tall, handsome man, with courtly man
nors. which, however. when mis- temper was reused,
did not prevent him from heing bolh violent ana
cruel toward those who had offended him-qualities
which he had probably Inherited from his ancestor
who, together with other buccaneers. had more
than hundred years before driven the SpaniaThs
from the western portion of the island. HIS
dan ster was n young girl of sixteen, who since her
mothers death had Lad complete control OF the
household with its enormous retinue OF slaves. She
was n blue-eyed, falr-harcd Creole. gentle. YET
vivaeious. with winning manner which added
to her graceful figure and ar lace, maze ner al,
tractvo enough Her father, proud OF her beauty,
allowed himself in some measure to be iniiuehced
by her wishes and thus many slave owed his or
her escape from the rod TO their Young mistress's
eutreaties on their behalf. Like every white. how
ever Oh tho island. she regarded the negroes os
with contempt ana the freed mnhsl9 ,e WIZ
q handsome hgh-sprited boy OF eight, VINO. from
his petulant ana even violent temper. was secretly
dislked as we'll as feared by .he negroes on the
estate. Little or no contro was exercised over hun,
nc both his father and sister INDUCED him IN every
whim regarding him with IN affection which was
as inindicious as il was fond None of the slaves
dared thwart his WILL aud therefore II was n mat
ter of some surprise when ore evening lie rushed
into the room where Mademoiseiie LeVasseur was
entertaining some of her friends, and complained
that a man who was EMPLOYED under the head
gardener had been Ins0lent TO him.
To you SAID his sister in astonishment.
eyes Adele to me-" the boy replied angrlv with
the naughty Misunderstanding and unpleasant in u
child of one unaccustornet either 10 reDuRe OF
control lie has stone WANT TIC VIII hot ei'o
The girl rose 81 must speak to this slave she
said turning to her guests and, taxing tine 10y
the verandah. From thence they passed into tho
garden where they found the negro standing on
the sward with look of mingled fear and cunning
What W Is this, Frsncoisi" she said, while the
wifu boy ran Up to the man ana struck nm mex es
Tell him to give It to Inc, or that he shall be
flogced.' .,
aGive it to your young master at once she said
"@ The negro hesitated. at is not mine.
Mademoselle," he answered in his Creole French.
@or NJ Florian shoud have 1t. Ii belongs to the
freedman Antoine" Adele paused for minute.
The man whom Francois had mentioned was
negro much disliked by the planters In the neigh
borhood of whom they entertained strong ana
nrohably very lust suspicious that lie WAS only
waiting for q suitable moment to stir mp the
negroes on the estates TO murder tnelr masters anu
been ght over from Africa when boy and was
the son of fetch man on tho Congo lie had man
agei to obtain his freedom at an early age. ana WAS
Locke upon with awe by the other blacks, as lie
was supposed to know his fathers secrets
"iou can give this money TO antoine saih Aneif
for con never to speak to him again. You know my
father has forbidden all his slaves to have any
intercourse with this man. Florian' you can take
Mademoiselle-r pleaded the negro. but before
he could proceed further the child snatched the
s,one from his hand, and oil to play with IT on
the yerandah. The nan watched nm with look
which, If he had dared to give expression 10 MS
thoughts would have been thdt atGn ZEN anu "w9o
had been nurse to both OF u. LeyaSseurs children
and who hid been regarding the scene from her
seat the velvet grass under an acacia rose anu
caught her hand II .
aGiye it back" she said. in an eager whisper; ut
no, Cecile.v replied the girl giving the old
African the Christian name by which she was
known in the household. " 1t belongs 70 antoine,
whites | have given 1t 10 FlorlaD. but have paid
Francois. Who and what is Papaloi
The negress's face became contortel WIN lear
under her gaycolOred t'guon. ahc she ciutchou ner
lie il the fetch man." she said In q tremuous
whisper and her can giye %asaa poison or IN
cantationl. Let 'Ht mo"e iii'''e niaS'o' Wv"
'' flush. mamma! If Pere Eustsce heard you he
would have Won flogged. You know that fetich men
worship the devil, and We do not let them live In
W" Then, with kind smile, and draw ing her hand
gently from the old woman's clasp. the girl turned
AWAY and presently rejOined her guests Her
brother meanwhile continued TO play with the
stone which like all spolt children VINO naye got
Interest Ii was evidently the head OF some rude
axe, and as 1t had probably been brought from
Africa il would naturally he looked upon Win ven
fsw DAYS after this event. as the boy was play
ing QUO night On the verandah in the brilliant star
light. he suddenly ran up to his father, who with
some gentlemen was drinking his wi near the
treIs work. which was entwined with brilliant
lowering creepers, and exclaimed that he had seen
n combs Ia ghOst by the acaci a On being cues
toned lac said that the combs had red handker,
chief on its head blue band round us waist. ana
that its hair was knctted over its brew that he
had not felt afraid OF ii at first as he had thought
il was one Of the slaves TILL turning toward him.
had made q dreadful face, when, convinced tuat ~
was spirit, he had 1od to his father. NJ.
Levasseur and his friends laughed at the story,
and were partly humorng. partly teasing the child,
when. springing off his fathers knee, he pointed
toward the end of the verandah.
There! there!" lie exclaimed his eyes dilatlng.
sDon't you see 1t THE sombtsP
Tie gentlemen checked their mirth and looked In
the direction indicated. but saw nothing.
IL has gone into the house." he cried, as they bc-
u.n 10 laugb at him again. "Papa, you believe me.
Come viii show you where saw IT,"
Thus urged, NJ. Levasseur rose and went to the
corner of The yerendah where his son had been
nlsying large glass door here led into the house,
AID az ~ Levasseur paused for a mo ment he beheld
Tho shadow of man projected against the angie Of
AZ vail Tie next second 1t vanished, and, con-
Guiding that it was one of the nlayes be went into
the house. The door opened into sort OF ante.
room or s,lon, and q second door led into suite of
ROOMS devoted to the OF his son. Here were his